[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor":3,"chapter-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-69":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1511168,1962,"Chapter 69: The Dual-Aspect Psyker","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-69",69,"\u003Cp>Just as Bukayo was about to fire at the scorpion-like creature, it suddenly exploded into pieces with a thunderous bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to see Marlena, dressed in a black gown and holding a staff, striding calmly through the chaos toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave her a nod of acknowledgment and immediately resumed his assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Marlena reached the front lines of the Third Regiment, a sudden image flashed through her mind: a creature shaped like a bat, but with six soft pink tentacles growing from its back, diving at her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to cast a psychic spell. But as a \"Planter,\" Marlena didn't panic. She simply raised her fist and punched upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind howled from the blow, and the bat-like creature was launched into the air, sent crashing into the crystal ceiling. Its corpse tumbled into the mob below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marlena raised her staff and faced the surging tide of monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the creatures began to shudder and bloat, a biochemical reaction triggered within them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like bursting balloons, dozens of monsters on the front lines detonated, reduced to shredded remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Marlena's biomancy powers tore through the horde, Nareth had already teleported all of the light sculptures back to the \"Kingdom of Disordered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still receiving no messages, he realized Marlena and Bukayo must be in serious trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately sent a message to Gul'gul:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Assemble the Eighth Regiment. You're coming to the surface with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth boarded a dropship and flew toward the crystal mountain. Meanwhile, deep within it, Marlena and Bukayo's expressions shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They both heard it: a tsunami-like sound crashing toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, they saw it, an unending wave of aberrations charging forward, far more than they had faced before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the horde, a lone figure appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore a gray robe and held a crystal staff in his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marlena noticed his left hand clutched a six-sided prism, radiating a dazzling aetheric glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the ambient crystals on the cavern walls, the object he held blazed like a floodlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She instantly recognized it, an aether crystal, a rare and powerful material recorded in Fra'al data crystals, used to craft high-grade staves and other gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other surrounding crystals were merely aether-sensitive and good only for ornamentation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her attention quickly returned to the gray-robed figure himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An invisible barrier enveloped him, and monsters hurled themselves at him, only to be repelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he waved his staff, multiple beasts burst into flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He's a powerful dual discipline psyker,' Marlena thought. 'Flame-based attacks, telekinetic defense.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to Bukayo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think it's that crystal he's holding; it's drawing the monsters in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But with that force field, it'll be hard to knock it away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bukayo frowned. He had also noticed that the monsters were charging with reckless abandon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where before they might dodge attacks, now they just rushed blindly into the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They've gone mad. Even if the psyker dies, they won't stop…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately understood what Marlena meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we'll have to team up with him and retreat together. Let's hope he's smart enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the gray-robed psyker also noticed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping the aether crystal tightly, he summoned more energy and raised his staff high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A whirlwind of fire exploded outward, incinerating many monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid their shrieks, the psyker broke free of the mob and rushed toward Marlena and Bukayo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took the front, willingly taking the brunt of the assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trio fought while retreating, but the monsters felt endless. Marlena's psychic reserves were nearly drained, and her temples throbbed painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her usage of the Fra'al's data crystals had warned her of this symptom: she was nearing the limit of safe aetheric use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she pushed further, she might collapse, or worse, lose herself in the tides of the Sea of Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out behind them:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Move aside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marlena and Bukayo instantly perked up. Nareth had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They leapt to either side, hugging the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gray-robed psyker didn't understand Vostroyan Gothic, but he heard the deep voice and turned, just as a deafening blast went off behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gust of wind slammed into his left side. His force field trembled, then shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He staggered to the right, using his staff to steady himself, and stared, stunned, as a giant rampaged into the monster horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant moved like lightning. The psyker's eyes couldn't keep up, only the sight of monsters falling like dominoes told him what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could fully process it, the giant had already returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His footsteps seemed to thunder into the psyker's soul, sweat beaded on his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth studied the silver-haired psyker, impressed by how those narrowed blue eyes held his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Impressive willpower. Weaker than Marlena, but stronger than most.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth asked in the local tongue:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arsena Dunn, sir. And you are…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively, Arsena used an honorific.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nareth. Ruler of Vostroya.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's gaze lingered on the aether crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I assume you know what lies at the end of this passage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena gave a respectful bow:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome, far-traveled king.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the end of this path lies the blasphemous kingdom of the Heartslayer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fools there worship the Heartslayer as a god. But I believe it is a dark power, nothing divine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They've erected a statue and built an altar, performing sacrifices every six days, six months, and six years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They call themselves the Heart-Eaters. Over thousands of years, they've become vastly different from other tribes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the aether crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to know if this Heartslayer is real, whether it truly seduced them into corruption.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I infiltrated their altar and took this crystal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's black eyes narrowed. The purple glow on the crystal shimmered faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could sense faint pain and wailing within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Looks like some Slaaneshi daemon seeped power into it during sacrifice. But the connection across the Warp is weak.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Even most psykers wouldn't detect it, not even someone like Arsena. It'll fade in a few days.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I intend to destroy that heretical nation. Will you guide me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Heart-Eaters number sixty thousand and keep tens of thousands of beasts, like the ones you just saw.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter,\" Nareth replied calmly. \"Just lead the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena glanced around; their forces only numbered a few thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone had once claimed they could defeat the Heart-Eaters with so few, Arsena would've called them insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, having witnessed Nareth's terrifying strength, he found himself believing it could be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Arsena was still processing this, Nareth began issuing orders:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marlena, Bukayo, return to the flagship and rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Third Regiment stays aboard the Pride of Vostroya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the other three ships, leave one Regiment on each.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All other troops, once on the ground, begin the assault from multiple directions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Marlena and the others departed, Nareth turned to Arsena:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lead the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena had already made his decision. Even if the Heart-Eaters weren't wiped out, he was sure, with Nareth's power, they could break through anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth followed closely behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the mountain peak to its heart, he clearly sensed they passed through six branch points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At each fork, only one path was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a test of perception.\u003C\u002Fp>",1209,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.768Z",1,"novelbin.me","6da32a9b359395b53f5d6c859a59cba4b2ae97950d5e768671f063cfa60a9fac","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-70","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-68",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]